High Lead Cable System

Shown here is a drawing of what is known as the "High
Lead Logging" configuration. Here the lower main line
is used for the skidding line. The upper secondary line is
looped out around the woods with several blocks on the back
side of the job. As the area is logged the blocks are
disconnected one at a time, causing the main line to
realign itself with the next tail block, thus changing
roads.

No carriage is required in this configuration, just butt
rigging. This doesn't have to be anything fancy, but is
the place where the main line, the haulback line and the
chokers all come together. This is essentially a ground
logging system, in that the logs normally drag on the
ground on their way to the landing. It is called 'high
lead' because the main line is elevated and this
assists the logs in riding over obstacles.

In many ways, the high lead system is simply 2 winch lines:
One to drag logs in to the machine and a second to drag the
winch line back out in the woods. Unlike the shotgun
system, it will work on flat ground, and in locations where
it is not possible to get enough deflection to keep the
yarding lines off the ground. The rigging is simple, and
only a 2 drum machine is required. the useful distance for
this logging method is usually recognized as being 800
feet, with occasional reaches to 1000 feet for long
corners. It is best used for uphill logging, usable on the
flat and nearly unusable on downhill logging, because in
the latter configuration you are pulling the logs down into
the obstacles assuring that you will never get a log to
pull free.

This method has been around for a long time, and is just
one step improved from a single drum yarder which required
the cable to be pulled out by hand or with a horse. It is
the principal alternative available on a 2 drum machine
where a shotgun system won't work. Other systems need
three lines, though the North Bend system uses a standing
skyline which is never lowered so you can pull up a skyline
and either tie it off or anchor it to a dozer or even a
second yarder since no ability to raise or lower the
skyline is required during the logging operation.